Happy Wednesday, Razzball faithful!
Well, the time is finally here. After three weeks of running through aggregate rankings of forwards, defensemen, and goalies, we’re now just SIX SLEEPS away from Opening Night!
If you want to check out the preseason aggregate rankings, I’ll attach those links here…
I moved the forwards around a lot more than I moved the defensemen. For the goalies, the aggregate rankings were even more puzzling in some spots, but I left a lot of that alone (despite disagreeing with some of the player rankings).
For today’s final preseason writeup, I felt it was a good time to run through some players who are being drafted a lot lower than I anticipated.
You can call them “Sleepers” if you wish, but I like referring to these guys as deeper league targets or “Players who should return more value than they will cost you on draft day”.
Then again, I guess, “Sleeper” is still the easiest label to apply.
For the format, I toyed with the idea of running a straight list with ADP and a Notes section, kind of like how I do the Top 100 Starting Pitchers list on the baseball side of the site.
Then, I thought it might make more sense to just do a straight paragraph rundown.
After serious consideration, I came to the conclusion that this seemed to work best.
Below, you’ll find a few charts that house the individual groups of players I think are destined to be “BUY” candidates or at least to return positive value on your investment based on their ADPs.
I’ll include names, teams, positions, and ADP in the chart, then add a short write-up on some of the guys in a paragraph below each section.
For the record, and for simplicity’s sake, all rankings are based on a 32-team Head-To-Head dynasty league format with expanded categories on Fantrax.
Our active roster structure is 3 C, 3 LW, 3 RW, 4 D, and 1 G, with 8 reserve spots and 12 minor-league slots for the kiddos.
Skater categories are: Goals, Assists, Shots-on-Goal, Hits, Blocks, Takeaways, and Faceoffs Won.
The Goalie categories are: Wins, Saves, and Save Percentage.
Got all that? Are you still awake?
I sure do hope so! Because it’s time for the SLEEPERS!
*ADP and Positional Eligibility based on Fantrax Dynasty 32-team H2H league rankings*
*ADP is rounded to the nearest place – this is why some guys have the same ADP here*
*Categories – PIMS – penalties; SHP – short-handed points; PPP, powerplay points; FOW – Faceoffs won.*
The Good Ones: 50-100 ADP
| ADP | NAME | TEAM | POSITION | CATEGORY HELP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Connor Bedard | CHI | C | PTS, PPP |
| 54 | Aleksander Barkov | FLA | C | PTS, PPP, FOW |
| 66 | John Carlson | TB | D | PTS, PPP |
| 74 | Brayden Point | TB | C | PTS, PPP |
| 78 | Kirill Marchenko | CLM | RW | PTS, PP1 |
| 83 | Brandt Clarke | LA | D | PTS, BLK, SOG |
| 84 | Drake Batherson | OTT | LW/RW | PTS, PPP |
| 91 | Tom Wilson | WSH | RW | PIM, HITS, PTS, PPP |
| 92 | Noah Dobson | MTL | D | BLK, SOG, G, PP2 |
| 93 | Ivan Demidov | MTL | RW | PTS |
| 98 | Shea Theodore | VEG | D | PTS, PPP |
| 98 | Mark Stone | VEG | RW | PTS, PPP, SOG, G |
| 99 | Bowen Byram | CHI | D | PPP, PTS |
| 100 | Matthew Knies | TOR | LW | PPP, PTS, HITS |
Connor Bedard – There have been some conflicting reports out of Chicago. Most news says that Bedard will be back “some time in November”, while others are saying the team is unsure if he’s on track or ahead of schedule. Either way, don’t let this kid slip too far in your drafts. And if you’re in a keeper league where someone threw him back into the pool after hearing about the extended IR stint to start this season, pounce on it.
John Carlson – I wrote a bit about this in the defensemen piece a couple of weeks ago, but it sounds like Victor Hedman is out as the PP1 guy and the job is John Carlson’s to lose. Carlson is nothing if not consistent, and he’s no stranger to running a high-octane group with the man advantage from his days in Washington. 66th overall seems a bit steep, but if he can stick on that power play all year and stay healthy, he’ll challenge his career high in points (75 pts in 2019-2020).
Aleksander Barkov – He’s skating on the first line between Brady Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart. And he’s pumping the points already. This is a guy I’d be reaching for on draft day. If he’s fully back, and can stay healthy, this line is going to make a mess this year.
Brandt Clarke – He played all 82 games for the Kings last year and put up a solid 40-point season. Viz and I were both in on the hype last year, and we’re both hopeful that a change in coaching behind the bench means Clarke will get more run on the power play. More offensive opportunities should mean a breakout is coming here.
Tom Wilson – We all know what we’re getting here. In points leagues, he’s worth a pick. In leagues with multiple categories (especially hits/blocks/penalty minutes), he’s one of the best in the biz.
Ivan Demidov – This one is similar to the Brandt Clarke call above. Increased time means a better chance to take that next step in the breakout. The Chris Kreider signing likely pushes him off the first line at even strength, but he should more than make up for that loss of time on the first power-play unit.
Shea Theodore – Don’t yell at me! I know he was bad last year, but there are a few of these guys in this section. This is more about the potential for a bounceback year AND the opportunity still being there for the player. He’ll get the first pairing at even strength, and the PP1 duty again. Theodore is like the defensive version of Brayden Point. Just remember, we’re not drafting last year’s stats. We’re drafting talent and opportunity, and this guy has both.
Mark Stone – Speaking of bounce backs, this dude misses time each year, but always manages to go crazy on the score sheet when he’s in the lineup. If I draft a solid core of healthy skaters and can afford to take a risk at this point in the draft, give me this dude to pad the shots and goals on my squad.
The Mid-Range Gems: 101-200 ADP
| ADP | NAME | TEAM | POSITION | CATEGORY HELP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 | Gavin McKenna | TOR | LW | SOG, PTS, PP2 |
| 114 | MacKenzie Weegar | UTA | D | HITS, BLK, SOG |
| 122 | Dylan Cozens | OTT | C | PTS, HITS, SOG |
| 128 | Jimmy Snuggerud | STL | RW | PTS, PPP |
| 133 | Luke Hughes | NJ | D | PTS, PPP |
| 136 | Vince Dunn | SEA | D | PTS, PPP |
| 141 | Quinton Byfield | LA | C, LW | PTS, PPP, SOG |
| 144 | Joel Eriksson Ek | MIN | C | HITS, SOG |
| 148 | Jacob Trouba | SJ | D | HITS, BLK, SOG, PTS |
| 154 | Thomas Chabot | OTT | D | PTS, PPP, SOG, BLK |
| 157 | JJ Peterka | BOS | LW, RW | G, PPP |
| 161 | Philip Broberg | STL | D | PPP |
| 166 | Kevin Fiala | LA | LW, RW | PTS (IR) |
| 168 | Zeev Buium | VAN | D | PTS, PPP |
| 184 | Pavel Zacha | BOS | C, LW | PPP, PTS, FOW, SOG |
| 185 | Alex Laferriere | LA | LW, C, RW | HITS, PTS, SOG, PP2 |
| 187 | Anton Frondell | CHI | C | PTS, PPP, SOG, FOW |
Gavin McKenna – I wrote the kid up already in my forwards article, but he deserves a repeat here. Sure, he is likely to start the year on the second line both at even strength and with the man advantage, but if you think the Leafs won’t do everything they can to put this kid in situations where he can grow and flourish, you’re even more of a Leaf hater than I am. (jk! Kind of!)
Dylan Cozens – With bonehead Brady out of town, that 1C spot is up for grabs, and Cozens is a natural fit. Sure, he isn’t the point-per-game forward that Sabres fans hoped for when he was an up-and-coming prospect, but this guy should give us a solid point total with a nice bit of shots and hits to go along with it. Even if Ottawa runs out Tim Stutzle as their 1C (instead of the first-line LW), Cozens has a top-two centre spot locked down and will be spending all of the man-advantage time on PP1. Buy.
Luke Hughes – This one puzzles me. Luke Hughes was a surefire top-tier defenseman as early as last year. Two years ago, you could have found folks to debate whether or not he should be selected before or after his brother, Quinn, or even Cale Makar. 35 points in 68 games is nothing to be ashamed of, and the news that he’s finally healthy is a welcome positive for Devils fans. If we pair that up with the possibility that Dougie Hamilton gets shipped out within the first month or two, and Hughes takes PP1 duties back over, I’m in.
Quinton Byfield – I said it in the forward piece two weeks ago, so I won’t go into much detail here. Even if Adrian Kempe pushes him to the 2C spot, Byfield is the guy the Kings want to fill Anze Kopitar’s shoes…er, skates. I’d bet on Kempe shifting back to the RW sooner rather than later, and Byfield getting a long audition as the number one guy.
Joel Eriksson Ek – He’s already pencilled in as the PP1 center, and the heel injury is no longer a concern. With all due respect to Danila Yurov, I wouldn’t be surprised if Eriksson Ek ends up as the Wild’s 1C before we get to a dozen games into the schedule.
Thomas Chabot – 57 games and 34 points last year, and the fantasy world seems to have forgotten what this guy can do. Sure, Jake Sanderson is running the PP1 gang, but Chabot is fully capable of stepping into that role if injuries surface. At the very least, he’ll get us some points and give us some decent hits and shots on goal while he’s at it.
JJ Peterka – It’s a short one here. The Bruins need secondary scoring, and Peterka is going to get every opportunity as a top-6 forward. He should make a run at 30 goals.
Philip Broberg – Here’s the winner of the “Who tee eff is going to run the point on the power play?” sweepstakes. All I know is it isn’t going to be Torey Krug!
Kevin Fiala – This one is strictly a Simple Minds pick. AKA a “Don’t You Forget About Me”. He’s slated to start skating next week and will miss a month of the season, but if the rest of your league forgets about him, he’s a solid add if you can stash him in an IR or bench spot.
Pavel Zacha – As of publication, the Bruins hadn’t signed Zacha to an extension. Whether that happens or not, he’s going to get PP1 duty and a sweet bit of time with David Pastrnak either as the latter’s centreman or left winger. He’ll be a UFA at the end of the year, so he’s got motivation to turn the offense on until he gets that extension or puts up enough numbers to price himself out of Boston and onto an even stronger team with playoff plans. Buy.
Alex Laferriere – He’s like Tom Wilson lite. He’ll get you some points, but it’s the hits and blocks that we want to draft him for that make the difference here.
Anton Frondell – It’s a bit of a hedge here between Frank Nazar and Frondell. Someone had to hold down the 1C spot until Captain Connor returns (yes, I mean the one in Chicago, not Edmonton). He’ll get some healthy power-play minutes to start, too.
The “SHHH! My League-Mates Might Be Reading This!”: 201-300 ADP
| ADP | NAME | TEAM | POSITION | CATEGORY HELP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | Josh Doan | BUF | LW, RW | PTS, PPP, SOG |
| 205 | Gabriel Landeskog | COL | LW | PTS, HITS, PP1 |
| 206 | Zayne Parekh | CGY | D | PTS, SOG, BLK |
| 207 | Will Cuylle | NYR | LW, RW | HITS, PTS, SOG |
| 218 | Ryan Leonard | WSH | RW | PTS |
| 229 | Frank Nazar | CHI | C, RW | PTS, FOW, PPP |
| 235 | Chris Kreider | MTL | LW | PTS, PPP, SOG |
| 239 | Devon Toews | COL | D | SOG, BLK, PPP |
| 261 | Owen Power | BUF | D | PPP, PTS, SOG, BLK |
| 266 | Nikita Zadorov | BOS | D | HITS, PIMS, BLK, SHP |
| 276 | James Hagens | BOS | C | PPP, PTS |
| 282 | Jack Roslovic | TOR | C, RW | PTS, PP1 |
| 285 | Martin Fehervery | WSH | D | PTS, PPP |
| 286 | Fraser Minten | BOS | C | PTS, PPP |
| 288 | Olen Zellweger | BUF | D | PTS, PP2 |
| 289 | Matt Savoie | EDM | C | PTS, (IR) |
Josh Doan – Viz mentioned it in the comment section of his last post, but it’s tough to see the Sabres trading away this kid in a deal for Connor Hellebuyck. The Sabres are building something really special, and Shane Doan Junior is a big part of that plan. He might not develop into a top-tier right-winger anytime soon, but riding on line 1 with Tage Thompson and getting PP1 time with some serious talent means he has a legitimate shot at blowing right past his 25 goals from last year. I’d bet the over on a 30-goal season, and draft him everywhere at this price.
Gabriel Landeskog – First, yes, I can confirm that he’s still alive. And no, he’s not over 40. All jokes aside, I can’t guess how many seasons Landeskog has played and how many of those he’s been completely healthy for (for the record, those answers are: 12 and 3 – if you count 80+ games as ‘healthy’).
I don’t know if I’d be reaching too far ahead of the ADP to pick up the former Avs captain, but at this price, and with PP time on an absolute juggernaut of an offense, how can you not take him here?
Zayne Parekh – Check the defense article I read for more information. Or, you can check last year’s Calgary breakouts I wrote up in the 2025-2026 preseason. Skip this dude if your league has plus/minus as a category, but scoop him if you’re in a dynasty or keeper league. The breakout is coming.
Will Cuylle – It’s easy here. This dude hits anything that moves…and sometimes hits things that don’t move. When a guy does that AND gives us a modest 30-40 points to boot, he’s worth the draft cost.
Devon Toews – He’s back on the first pairing with Cale Makar, slated to get PP2 time, and will patrol the PK as much as he can. If your league mates overlook him because he only played 68 games last year, jump on this at pick 239.
Owen Power and Olen Zellweger – Hedge time! Defensemen are notoriously slow to develop, so I’ve given Owen Power a long leash when it comes to drafting and holding him in my keeper leagues. Well, last year was his 4th full season, and he took a step back in the points department, despite improving defensively and posting an improved +/- rating. He’ll get PP2 duty to start the year, but monitor this one as Olen Zellweger was brought in this offseason, and that kid could be given a shot to run a power-play unit if Power falters. If you have room, I could see adding both (unless you don’t like to load up on players from the same team).
Nikita Zadorov – Speaking of (former) Sabres defensemen…this guy is a Bruin favorite already. There have even been whispers that the team is considering him for the captaincy. I’m sure “The Other Big Zee” is fine wearing an A, and I know he’s fine with punching people’s faces in. If you have a PIMs category in your league, scoop this guy and don’t look back.
James Hagens and Fraser Minten – It’s kind of wild that of the two Bruin kids, Hagens is the one with the higher ADP. I suppose we can blame the “rookie-hype machine” for that, but it also speaks to the pure talent that this kid possesses.
Check it out.
James Hagens with some FILTH in the shootout for the eventual game winner pic.twitter.com/xHfOccWPXg
— Bear With Me (@BearWithMe_Pod) September 20, 2026
Not to repeat myself, but we could use that same “Why not both?” GIF from above when discussing both of these young centers. I still think the best course of action for these guys is putting them together on a line with someone who can score (Marat Khustodinov?), but no matter what the projected lines say, I’d be drafting either one with confidence.
Jack Roslovic – This speedster is penciled in as Auston Matthews’ first-line right winger and slated to ride shotgun on PP1. Uh…yes, please!
Matt Savoie – He’s out for all of October, so this is more of a “monitor and pounce” situation if your league isn’t all that deep and he ends up on the waiver wire. The kid has the pedigree and the opportunity to push his way into a scoring spot when he gets healthy. Stash him on your IR or put him on your watch list.
A few names to avoid at draft cost
Connor Hellebuyck – ADP: 83 – He’s holding out and officially suspended, so he’s losing a good chunk of money for himself.
Don’t draft him at cost and lose your money, too.
Jacob Markstrom – ADP: 136 – The ultimate feast or famine pick if he’s your number one netminder. Could he be awesome for Florida and lead them to a division title? Yep!
But what happens if things don’t go as planned?
Let’s just say I watched this clip and heard Grey’s “Eeeuuuggghhhh” which is usually reserved for the baseball podcast when the guys are discussing poor outings.
Good news: NHL teams won’t have to worry about a healthy Florida this year
I present to you 2026 Jacob Markstrom pic.twitter.com/59RSagovVb
— Top Tier Hockey (@TopTierPucks) September 21, 2026
Charlie McAvoy – ADP: 70 – Ok, please don’t tell anyone that I did this or they’ll revoke my Bruin fan privileges.
Do I love Charlie McAvoy the player? Absolutely.
Would he be an excellent choice as the next captain of the Bruins if David Pastrnak says he doesn’t want the C? Yeppers.
Look, I don’t want to avoid Chuck on draft day, but the fact of the matter is he’s starting the season with a 6-game suspension, hasn’t played a healthy season in ANY of his 9 years in the league, and is hard-pressed to make a push for the elite level of scoring defensemen with a career high of 61 points (in 69 games) last year.
The hits and blocked shots are excellent, and I’d be the first one to defend him in an argument (especially if it involved that dirty POS Zach Benson and the slew-foot that led to McAvoy’s suspension-worthy slash), but the fact of the matter is he isn’t a defenseman I’d be drafting before I considered the next three who show up in the Average Draft Positions.
Porter Martone – ADP: 77 – Let’s get a couple of things out of the way here. First off, I think Porter Martone will be really good.
Secondly, I think he should be the front-runner for the Calder trophy this year.
This is about cost versus risk more than anything else.
I’d be more comfortable going with a veteran like Brayden Point, Kirill Marchenko, or even Lucas Raymond before gambling on a kid at this point in the draft. Could it blow up in my face? Sure. But it all comes down to your risk tolerance.
It’s up to you if you want to chase the shiny new toy, but he’s inside the Top 80 overall, and that number will probably climb even higher before your draft.
That’s all for this week! I hope you enjoyed it! Feel free to leave questions or comments in the chat here, and I’ll do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.
If you’re looking for pitcher notes on the baseball side of the site, you can always click my weekly Top 100 Starting Pitchers column. I’ll be posting a season review there on Monday, October 5th!
Have a great week, and I’ll see you next Wednesday for our FIRST Tuesday night recap of the REGULAR SEASON!
Follow me @marmosdad on Twitter/X and Bluesky @marmosdad.bsky.social
